Adams bomb

I've been a longtime fan of the Dilbert comic strip, but it now appears it'll be difficult to find in mainstream publications. 

The comic strip Dilbert has been dropped from multiple US newspapers in response to racist comments by its creator, Scott Adams, who called Black Americans a “hate group” and urged white people to “get the hell away” from Black people in a YouTube video.

Adams’s comments on 22 February came in response to a conservative organization’s poll which appeared to show that 26% of Black respondents said they disagreed with the statement “It’s OK to be white”. Another 21% said they were not sure.

The Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post each said on Saturday they were dropping Dilbert because of Adams’s comments.

Gannett, the largest American newspaper publisher, said in statement that USA Today Network – which includes more than 300 local media outlets in 43 states – would immediately cease publishing the cartoon.

“Recent discriminatory comments by the creator, Scott Adams, have influenced our decision to discontinue publishing his comic,” Gannett said in a statement. “While we respect and encourage free speech, his views do not align with our editorial or business values as an organization.”

This was the survey which Adams was reacting to: 

 

BLACK AMERICANS ONLY:
"It's okay to be white."
53% agree, 26% disagree, 21% not sure

"Black people can be racist, too"
76% of agree, 27% disagree, 8% not sure. https://t.co/5pYBvT00qn

— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) February 22, 2023

And Adams' comments which resulted in the backlash (WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE):

  

Longer video: He also talks about out of control black-on-white crime: pic.twitter.com/I2ucj1QEu5

— Jesse Lee Peterson (@JLPtalk) February 25, 2023

While I understand Adams' frustration over what appears to be a widening racial gap, the answer certainly isn't abandoning relations. I will concede that he has a point in that if only a tiny majority of white people said it's "OK to the black," the term "hate group" would've probably been the kindest description levied against whitey. 

I guess I'd be curious to know the rationale for why 47% of black people surveyed feel it's *not* OK to be white or are not sure. One thing that isn't helping the discourse though? The rhetoric from the walking cadaver in the White House, whether it's labeling a Georgia voting law "Jim Crow 2.0" or suggesting white folks still get off on black people getting lynched. 

While we're not even close to the racial tensions of the 1960s, it would appear that the racial divide has widened over the past decade. The way to stem that tide, however, is something that transcends politics. 

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